Louis walked slowly to the little table in the arbor, and, seating himself, took out a letter from his pocket and read it thoughtfully over. Then he drew a watch looped in diamonds from his pocket and looked at the hour. As he did so the huddled, seeming sleeping figure on the bench stiffened itself, sat up erect, and cast off its cloak. Lagardere rose and advanced towards the king. "I am here," he said, in a firm, respectful voice. Louis turned round and looked with curiosity but without apprehension at the man who addressed him, the man who was dressed like a gypsy, but who clearly was no gypsy. "Are you the writer of this letter?" he asked. Lagardere saluted him with a graceful reverence. "Yes, your Majesty. I know that you are the King of France." Louis slightly inclined his head. "I could not refuse a summons that promised to tell me of Louis de Nevers. Are you Lagardere?" Lagardere made a gesture as of protest. "I am his ambassador. Have I the privilege of an ambassador?" The king frowned slightly. "What privilege?" "Immunity if my mission displeases you," Lagardere answered. The king looked steadily at the seeming gypsy, who returned his glance as steadily. "You are bold, sir," he said. Lagardere answered him, with composure. "I am bold because I address Louis of France, who never broke his word--Louis of France, who still holds dear the memory of Louis of Nevers." The king signed to him to continue. "Speak freely. What do you know of Louis of Nevers?" Lagardere went on: "Lagardere knows much. He knows who killed Nevers. He knows where Nevers's child is. He can produce the child. He can denounce the murderer." "When?" asked the king, eagerly. "To-morrow," Lagardere answered. Then he hastened to add: "But he makes his conditions." Louis frowned as Lagardere mentioned the word "conditions," and asked: "What reward does he want?" Lagardere smiled at the question. "You do not know Lagardere. He asks for a safe-conduct for himself." The king agreed. "He shall have it." But Lagardere had more to ask. "He also wants four invitations for the ball your majesty gives at the Palais Royal to-morrow night."